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Sustainability
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Co-design and Social Innovation for Climate Neutrality
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Co-design and Social Innovation for Climate Neutrality

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Products and Services".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (13 February 2025) | Viewed by 7071

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sabrina Bresciani

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Assistant Professor, Department of Design, Politecnico di Milano, 20158 Milano, Italy
Interests: social innovation; climate neutrality; visual design thinking
Prof. Dr. Francesca Rizzo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Design, Politecnico di Milano, 20158 Milan, Italy
Interests: social innovation; service design; public sector innovation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate neutrality is an urgent and complex challenge that cannot be reached with top-down technological solutions alone but requires multidisciplinary knowledge and citizens-centered solutions for systemic change. Social innovation is increasingly valued for its transformative role in promoting people-centered approaches through co-designing solutions for the systemic change of socio-cultural systems. Departing from technological solutions and top-down policymaking, user-centered solutions and services requires the involvement of networks of actors and the ability to co-design solutions, learn from experimentation through appropriate and relevant assessment methodologies.

The aim of the Special Issue is to foster a discussion of the role of co-design and  social innovation, service design and policy design for reaching carbon neutrality through a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach. We welcome papers based on theoretical, qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods studies which reflect and provide evidence of the relevance and need of considering design approaches and people-centered solution to reduce GHG emissions.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following topics:

  • Co-design and social innovation impact measurement, impact pathways, indicators and SDGs
  • Design for transition
  • Case studies and best practices of co-design and social innovation projects for climate neutrality at urban, reginal, and national level.
  • Sense making and learning from large-scale experimental sustainability projects
  • People-centered evidence-based policy design for climate neutrality
  • Indicators of behavioral change for sustainability
  • Citizens’ participation and public service co-design for climate change
  • Design of communications and reporting of social and environmental impact of projects and policies for sustainability
  • Co-design and social innovation in circular economy
  • Participatory design, co-creation, inclusive design for sustainability and wellbeing.

Research in this area can contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular to climate action (SDG 13), by promoting sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) and responsible consumption (SDG 12), through partnerships (SDG 17) with the final goal to increase health and wellbeing for all (SDG 3), as well as to the New European Bauhaus – the interdisciplinary initiative connecting the European Green Deal to living spaces and experiences.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Sabrina Bresciani
Prof. Dr. Francesca Rizzo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • design for transition
  • Social Innovation
  • service design
  • co-design
  • sustainable behavior indicators
  • citizens participation
  • cross-sector partnership
  • social impact

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 520 KiB  
Article
Ecological Citizenship and the Co-Design of Inclusive and Resilient Pathways for Sustainable Transitions
by Luke Gooding, Daniel Knox, Emily Boxall, Robert Phillips, Tracy Simpson, Charlotte Nordmoen, Rebecca Upton and Alec Shepley
Sustainability 2025, 17(8), 3588; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17083588 - 16 Apr 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 899
Abstract
Achieving climate neutrality and the provision of a route to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero or below requires a significant shift from a focus on top-down technological solutions to a more holistic, people-centred approach. The research presented here explores the role of [...] Read more.
Achieving climate neutrality and the provision of a route to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero or below requires a significant shift from a focus on top-down technological solutions to a more holistic, people-centred approach. The research presented here explores the role of ecological citizenship (EC) in this shift, and specifically how a socially innovative, co-designed approach to facilitating EC and the systemic changes needed for carbon neutrality could or should take place. The paper presents EC as an evolving practice that emphasises the responsibility of individuals and communities towards ecological sustainability and social equity. The study examines how various stakeholders, such as industry practitioners, third-sector organisations, and community members, communicate, understand, and implement EC practices, projects, and solutions, using a mixed-methods approach that includes roundtable talks and workshops. As such, the study emphasises the value of user-centred, co-designed proposals that enable individuals to actively participate in positive climate action. It also looks at the opportunities and challenges of incorporating EC into wider societal and legislative norms. At the municipal, regional, and national levels, we feel the results offer useful insights into how design processes, environmental programs, and participatory governance approaches may promote more sustainable, inclusive transitions and support achieving carbon neutrality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Co-design and Social Innovation for Climate Neutrality)
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24 pages, 1783 KiB  
Article
Promoting Urban Net Zero Transitions Through Multi-Level Governance: The Intermediary Role of Systemic Collaborative Platforms
by Jaime Moreno-Serna, Teresa Sánchez-Chaparro, Wendy M. Purcell, Olga Kordas, Julio Lumbreras, Carlos Mataix, Leda Stott, Miguel Soberón and John D. Spengler
Sustainability 2024, 16(21), 9470; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219470 - 31 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2706
Abstract
In the fields of partnership research and social innovation, there has been an increasing number of calls for evidence regarding the kind of collaborative multi-level governance structures that might support large-scale transformation processes, especially in regard to climate-neutral cities. This paper conceptualizes a [...] Read more.
In the fields of partnership research and social innovation, there has been an increasing number of calls for evidence regarding the kind of collaborative multi-level governance structures that might support large-scale transformation processes, especially in regard to climate-neutral cities. This paper conceptualizes a new type of intermediary actor, the Systemic Collaborative Platform (SCP). Using the example of a multi-stakeholder arrangement set up to design and implement Madrid’s Climate Neutrality Roadmap, the key features of an SCP include a focus on multi-stakeholder and cross-sectoral collaboration for public policy development, in this case operating at both a systemic level and a city scale, and a strong link to a key actor within this regime (a city council). Our study reveals how an SCP can contribute to articulation of a shared mandate among city actors and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of a targeted transition by attracting, aligning and managing a wide and diverse organizational ecosystem through distributed facilitation, collaborative leadership, and continuous learning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Co-design and Social Innovation for Climate Neutrality)
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Review

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32 pages, 2458 KiB  
Review
Cities and Governance for Net-Zero: Assessing Procedures and Tools for Innovative Design of Urban Climate Governance in Europe
by Joel Terwilliger and Ian Christie
Sustainability 2025, 17(6), 2698; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062698 - 18 Mar 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1037
Abstract
Despite the collective promise of integrating more open (broader-based, participatory) city-level governance into the global energy governance regime, little attention has been paid to the different impact logics and assumptions underpinning local procedural governance tools (PGTs) in circulation and the degree to which [...] Read more.
Despite the collective promise of integrating more open (broader-based, participatory) city-level governance into the global energy governance regime, little attention has been paid to the different impact logics and assumptions underpinning local procedural governance tools (PGTs) in circulation and the degree to which they address key good governance dimensions dominantly thought to be indicative of transformation. This review aims to fill this gap by mapping and analyzing key energy transition PGTs circulating across four climate action initiatives that mobilize and provide support to cities and local governments. A framework—REPAIR: Reflexivity, Enabling/Embedding, Participatory, Integrative, Adaptive, and Radicality—is proposed based on a synthesis of common governance innovation design features, and a representative sample of 25 PGTs are evaluated against these dimensions. The analysis reveals a need for (1) more differentiation and tailored capacity relating to governance monitoring, evaluating, and learning systems; (2) more attention to prioritization and design factors across different governance interventions in relation to local climate actions; and (3) more nuanced theories of change for operationalizing local power/coalition/mandate building (across different dimensions of governance). This article concludes that there are real gaps in how the collective advantages, opportunities, and promise of traveling “ideal types” of good governance will be fulfilled and outlines future research directions for informing more aligned governance innovation for low-carbon transitions in urban areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Co-design and Social Innovation for Climate Neutrality)
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22 pages, 1646 KiB  
Review
After the Initial Start of Co-Production: A Narrative Review of the Development of Co-Production and Changes in Orientation
by Hessel Bos, Pieter Zwaan and Taco Brandsen
Sustainability 2025, 17(3), 971; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17030971 - 24 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1040
Abstract
Co-production is viewed as a solution to deal with societal issues. For instance, citizens are encouraged to propose solutions and work together with the government to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. We have a solid understanding of the initial phase of co-production and [...] Read more.
Co-production is viewed as a solution to deal with societal issues. For instance, citizens are encouraged to propose solutions and work together with the government to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. We have a solid understanding of the initial phase of co-production and the factors that influence this phase, such as motivation, resources, social capital, and a supportive culture. There is consensus in the literature that co-production initially exists between the state and the community. However, we still know relatively little about the connection between these factors and the development and the orientation of co-production. This narrative review examines the current understanding of shifts in co-production orientation. This study employs an analysis and synthesis of data derived from 76 peer-reviewed articles sourced from academic databases. The objective is to present a comprehensive conceptual model. We argue that these factors shape how co-production develops after the initial phase, potentially shifting its position between the domains of state, community, and market. Factors tend to push the orientation of co-production in the direction of the community, but not exclusively so. To better understand these dynamics, qualitative longitudinal research should be conducted to trace the interactions between and within the factors that influence co-production orientation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Co-design and Social Innovation for Climate Neutrality)
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